The 2021 Survivors’ Pension rates saw 1.6% increase based on the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) increase that was announced by the Social Security Administration. To calculate the Survivors’ Pension rate increase the average of the indices of July, August, and September 2020 was compared with the 2019 3rd quarter average. 2021 Survivors’ Pension rates are effective 12/1/2020.
Survivors’ Pension rate increases are determined by Cost-of-Living-Adjustments (COLA). See our COLA increase watch for the most recent updates on a 2021 increase.
2021 Survivors’ Pension Details
Effective Date: 12/01/2020
First Paycheck: 12/31/2020
Veterans Pension Increase Factor: 1.3%
Net Worth/Income Limit: $130,773
Standard Medicare Deduction: Actual amount will be determined by SSA based on individual income.
Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR): MAPR is based on how many dependents you have, if you’re married to another Veteran who qualifies for a pension, and if your disabilities qualify you for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits. MAPRs are adjusted each year for cost-of-living increases.
Find your current MAPR amount using the tables below.
2021 Survivors Pension Rate Tables
For qualified surviving spouses with at least 1 dependent:
| If you have 1 dependent child and | Your MAPR amount is: |
|---|---|
| You dont qualify for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits | $12,229 |
| You qualify for Housebound benefits | $14,300 |
| You qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits | $17,815 |
| You qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits and youre the surviving spouse of a Veteran who served in the Spanish-American War (SAW) | $18,365 |
Notes:
- The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)/Minimum Income Annuity (MIW) limitation is $9,344.
- If you have more than 1 child, add $2,382 to your MAPR amount for each additional child.
- If you have a child who works, you may exclude their wages up to $12,550.
- If you have medical expenses, you may deduct only the amount that’s above 5% of your MAPR amount ($611 for a surviving spouse with 1 dependent).
For qualified surviving spouses with no dependents:
| If you have no dependents and | Your MAPR amount is: |
|---|---|
| You dont qualify for Housebound or Aid and Attendance benefits | $9,344 |
| You qualify for Housebound benefits | $11,420 |
| You qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits | $14,934 |
| You qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits and youre the surviving spouse of a Veteran who served in the Spanish-American War (SAW) | $15,539 |
Notes:
- The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)/Minimum Income Annuity (MIW) limitation is $9,344.
- If you have medical expenses, you may deduct only the amount that’s above 5% of your MAPR amount ($467 for a surviving spouse with no dependent child).
For qualified surviving children:
| If youre | Your MAPR amount is: |
|---|---|
| A qualified surviving child | $2,382 |
About VA Survivors’ Pension
The Survivors Pension benefit, formerly the VA Death Pension, is a tax-free monetary benefit payable to a low-income, un-remarried surviving Spouse and/or unmarried Child(ren) of a deceased Veteran with wartime service.
Survivors’ Pension rate tables are paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) including Housebound and Aid and Attendance supplements.
How to Apply for Survivors’ Pension with VA Form 21-534EZ
Glossary of Terms
- A & A – Aid & Attendance – A&A is a benefit paid in addition to monthly pension.Require the aid of another person to perform activities of daily living OR be blind or meet other specific visual acuity requirements OR be a patient in a nursing home because of physical and/or mental incapacity.
- Child Earned Income Exclusion – Excluded earnings amount from a dependent child.
- Countable Income – Includes income from most sources as well as from any eligible dependents. It generally includes earnings, disability and retirement payments, interest and dividend payments from annuities, and net income from farming or a business. Some expenses, such as unreimbursed medical expenses, may reduce countable income.
- Death Pension – Intended to supplement the income of a surviving spouse or child who is in need of financial assistance and provide a minimum level of financial security.
- Housebound – Qualifications: Single disability rated 100% and separate disabilities rated 60% or more (Veterans only) OR Permanently housebound due to disabilities per 38 CFR 3.351(d) OR Hartness v Nicholson (2006) when pension has been granted based on the veteran being age 65 or older.
- MAPR – Maximum Annual Pension Rate – The MAPR is the maximum amount of pension payable to a veteran, surviving spouse or child. MAPR fluctuates based on individual circumstances related to number of dependents and if Housebound or Aid & Attendance qualifications. The MAPR is reduced for each dollar of income that the veteran, surviving spouse, child, or their families have.
- MBW – Mexican Border War
- MIW – Minimum Income Annuity
- Net Worth – Net worth is the total of your or your beneficiary’s assets and annual income. Includes assets such as bank accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities, and any property other than your residence and a reasonable lot area. The VA will determine whether assets are of a sufficiently large amount that one could live off of them for a reasonable period of time. Net worth limit will increase by the same percentage as Social Security cost-of-living increases.
- Penalty Period – A penalty period is a length of time when a survivor isn’t eligible for pension benefits, because they transferred assets for less than fair market value during the look-back period. This may apply if those transferred assets would’ve caused the survivor’s net worth to be over the limit mentioned above. However, not every asset transfer is subject to this penalty.
- Veterans Pension – Tax-free monetary benefit payable to low-income wartime Veterans.
- SAW – Spanish-American War
- SBP – Survivor Benefit Plan
- SS – Veterans Surviving Spouse
- Survivors’ Pension – Tax-free monetary benefit payable to a low-income, un-remarried surviving spouse and/or unmarried child(ren) of a deceased Veteran with wartime service.
